Tom Ford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Ford
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Ford in 2009
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Thomas Carlyle Ford
August 27, 1961 Austin, Texas, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Parsons School of Design |
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Richard Buckley
(m. 2014; died 2021) |
| Children | 1 |
Thomas Carlyle Ford (born August 27, 1961) is a famous American fashion designer and filmmaker. He is known for being the creative director at the fashion houses Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. In 2005, he started his own successful brand, Tom Ford. He also directed the movies A Single Man (2009) and Nocturnal Animals (2016).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Carlyle Ford was born in Austin, Texas. His parents, Shirley and Thomas Ford, were real estate agents. He grew up in the suburbs of Houston, Texas, and later his family moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Even as a young boy, he was interested in design. He would rearrange the furniture in his house and give his mother advice on her style.
After high school, Ford moved to New York City to study art history at New York University. He soon became interested in acting and appeared in some television commercials.
Ford then decided to study interior architecture at Parsons School of Design, a famous art school. During this time, he spent a year and a half in Paris working for the fashion brand Chloé. This experience sparked his passion for fashion. He returned to New York and graduated with a degree in architecture, but he knew he wanted to work in the fashion world.
Fashion Career
Early Work
After graduating, Ford wanted a job in fashion. He called American designer Cathy Hardwick every day for a month until she agreed to meet him. Hardwick was impressed by his determination and style, and she gave him a job as a design assistant. He worked with her for two years.
In 1988, Ford started working for the brand Perry Ellis. After two years, he felt he needed to move to Europe to become a better designer. He said, "If I was ever going to become a good designer, I had to leave America... Europeans, however, appreciate style."
Leading Gucci and YSL
In 1990, the famous Italian fashion brand Gucci was struggling. They hired Ford to be their chief designer for women's clothing. Ford moved to Milan, Italy. His role at Gucci grew quickly. Soon, he was designing menswear, shoes, and many other products.
In 1994, Ford was promoted to Creative Director of Gucci. This meant he was in charge of the entire look and feel of the brand. His designs, which included velvet pants and shiny satin shirts, became very popular. He worked with famous stylists and photographers to create exciting new advertisements.
Under Ford's leadership, Gucci became incredibly successful. Between 1995 and 1996, sales increased by 90%. By 1999, the company, which had been close to failing, was valued at more than $4 billion.
In 1999, Gucci bought the fashion house Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), and Ford was also named its Creative Director. He brought a fresh, modern style to the classic brand and made it popular again. His advertising campaigns for YSL were known for being bold and provocative, causing a lot of discussion.
In 2004, Ford left the Gucci group. He later called the experience "devastating" because he had put so much of his energy into his work there for fifteen years.
The Tom Ford Brand
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After leaving Gucci, Ford did not stop designing. In 2006, he launched his own brand named after himself, selling menswear, beauty products, eyewear, and accessories. The brand quickly became a symbol of luxury and style.
Many famous people have worn his designs. First Lady Michelle Obama wore a Tom Ford gown to Buckingham Palace in 2011. He has also dressed stars like Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Tom Hanks, and Will Smith. Ford designed the suits for actor Daniel Craig in four James Bond movies.
His brand also became part of pop culture. In 2013, singer Justin Timberlake mentioned him in the hit song "Suit & Tie". Ford designed all the suits for the music video and for Timberlake's world tour. That same year, rapper Jay-Z released a song titled "Tom Ford".
In November 2022, the beauty company Estée Lauder bought the Tom Ford brand for $2.8 billion. Ford stepped down as the brand's creative director in April 2023.
Film Career
A Single Man
In 2005, Ford started his own film production company called Fade to Black. He directed his first movie, A Single Man, in 2009. The film is about a college professor in Los Angeles. It stars Colin Firth and Julianne Moore.
The movie was a great success. It was shown at the Venice Film Festival, where it was nominated for the top prize, the Golden Lion. For his role in the film, Colin Firth won a BAFTA Award and was nominated for an Academy Award. The film also won several other awards.
Nocturnal Animals
In 2016, Ford directed his second film, Nocturnal Animals. The movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Amy Adams. Like his first film, it was very well-received by critics.
Nocturnal Animals won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. Critics praised the film for its beautiful look and interesting story, proving that Ford was a talented director as well as a designer.
Personal Life
Tom Ford was married to Richard Buckley, a journalist and editor. They were together for many years after meeting in 1986 and got married in 2014. They have a son, who was born in 2012. Richard Buckley passed away in 2021.
Ford is a member of the Democratic Party. He believes that the President and First Lady should wear clothing made in America that is affordable for most people. For this reason, he has a policy of not dressing politicians.
Selected Awards
Ford has won many awards for his work in fashion and film.
- 1995: International Award – Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
- 2000: Best International Designer – VH1/Vogue Awards
- 2001: Womenswear Designer of the Year – CFDA
- 2001: Best Fashion Designer – Time Magazine
- 2004: Board of Directors Special Tribute – CFDA
- 2008: Menswear Designer of the Year – CFDA
- 2009: Venice Film Festival – Queer Lion for A Single Man
- 2010: GLAAD Media Awards – Outstanding Film Wide Release for A Single Man
- 2014: Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award – CFDA
- 2015: Menswear Designer of the Year – CFDA
- 2016: Venice Film Festival – Grand Jury Prize for Nocturnal Animals
Filmography
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | A Single Man | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2016 | Nocturnal Animals | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Acting role
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Zoolander | Tom Ford |
See also
In Spanish: Tom Ford para niños
